Back in June, I wrote about a new traffic citation diversion class that would be offered to bicyclists. Then in October, the man behind the class — Multnomah County Judge Pro Tem Christopher Larsen — shared more details about the class with the Portland Bicycle Advisory Committee.
Since that time, a diverse group of experts have been writing the class curriculum and finalizing details. The idea is to offer cyclists the same option motorists have to attend traffic school and get a ticket cleared from their record and have the fine reduced or dismissed completely.

Now the class is finally open for business.

The “Share the Road Safety Class” will start on March 14th. It will meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at Legacy Hospital in NE Portland.

[Mike Morrison from Trauma Nurses Talk Tough was involved in the creation of the class.]

The class — which is open to motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians — is tailored to first-time offenders of certain bicycle and pedestrian-related traffic violations, including running a stop sign/light on a bike. In lieu of the citation and $240+ fine, cyclists can take the 2-hour, $30 class instead.

If you have a current citation for running a stop sign, coasting thru a yellow light, etc., chances are you will be going to court in advance of the March 14th start date for the class.

In that case, contact me at the BTA offices and I will find a way to get the class information flyer into your hands. Contest the ticket, go to traffic court, plead not-guilty and request that the ticket be waived and you be allowed to attend the class. Show the flyer to the judge.

The judges should be aware that the class is starting so hopefully it won’t be a hassle, but just in case, bring the info flyer so you can show them.

I don’t have the list of citations in front of me at the moment, but can answer specific questions if you contact me.

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10 Comments

DabbyFebruary 14, 2007 at 12:12 pm

I believe I remember Greg and Judge Larson asking me What I thought about this, when I was at the Bike Gallery “Portland” bike opening. There was talk of meeting up again, but of course, due to my lack of focus, I did not follow up on it too well.
I have to say that I was impressed that they were asking a cantankerous old messenger like me what I thought about it, and I realized then that they were serious and it was going to happen.
I am happy to see that it has.
Good job!

Maybe it’s just me, and don’t mistake this as poo-pooing the whole idea -it’s great and will no doubt save a ton of cyclists money AND get them to think a bit more about following the law-, but…well, a class entitled “Share the Road” sounds like it ought to be talking to motorists just as much as the people this is currently targeted at. Considering it’s aimed at cyclists and pedestrians, the name might as well be appended “…with Motor Vehicles”. Which must be done, of course, but there’s practically an implied auto-dominance there…

If you have a current citation for running a stop sign, coasting thru a yellow light, etc., chances are you will be going to court in advance of the March 14th start date for the class.

In that case, contact me at the BTA offices and I will find a way to get the class information flyer into your hands. Contest the ticket, go to traffic court, plead not-guilty and request that the ticket be waived and you be allowed to attend the class. Show the flyer to the judge.

The judges should be aware that the class is starting so hopefully it won’t be a hassle, but just in case, bring the info flyer so you can show them.

I don’t have the list of citations in front of me at the moment, but can answer specific questions if you contact me.